English/Nat
Japanese Emperor Akihito tried to atone for the treatment of British prisoners of war during the Second World War during a speech at a banquet on Tuesday.
He spoke of his "deep sorrow and pain" at the many kinds of suffering that occurred during the war.
But this wasn't enough to placate the many P-O-W's who marred the visit by the Japanese monarch with a series of protests throughout the day.
It was a day of bitter recriminations.
The visit aimed at bolstering relations between Japan and Britain only served to ignite the passions of former prisoners of war.
Wherever Emperor Akihito went he was welcomed by rows of former Japanese prisoners with their backs turned as an insult.
Many whistled the war time Allied tune "Colonel Bogey".
Japanese flags handed out by the embassy were defaced and one was even set fire by the protesters.
They wanted a full apology from the Japanese government for their treatment during the war as well as compensation for their suffering.
But, some showed regret that the Emperor had become the focus of their protests.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"He is the head of state of a democratic country, and as such, though he may not be able to make a statement, his government should never put him in a position where he was put today. And it was entirely there fault that he was put in that position. Had they so much as talked, had they exceeded the fact that they did what they did to innocent civilians and treated military personal way beyond what the Geneva convention allows them to do it would never have occurred."
SUPER CAPTION: Ron Bridges, Vice Chairman of Association of British Civil Internees of the Far East region
In a speech given at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening, the Emperor showed some sympathy for the P-O-W's.
But the supporters of the former prisoners vowed to keep on fighting for a full apology.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"We feel it is quite a reasonable speech in as far as it is a personal statement by the Emperor as to his own feelings and clearly goes beyond that which he has ever said before so to that extent we are pleased with the speech. But to be frank it really doesn't take us much further. What we are really looking for is a firm apology from the Japanese government. We want an apology which has got clear words aimed at the POW's and internees. This is not what the statement is about, there is nothing about the POW's and internees themselves. And so to be frank the demonstrations will go on, the fight will go on and we are convinced we are going to win."
SUPER CAPTION: Martyn Day, lawyer for the former POW's
The protests have been a source of embarrassment for both the British and Japanese royal families.
But the message from the Japanese Embassy was that while the emperor was aware of the protests, he would carry on regardless.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Well, I think it went smoothly in a peaceful manner. I would imagine that the emperor took it in his stride. But in doing so I am sure that in his mind or heart his warm feeling that he expressed in his press conference in Tokyo about a week ago was there. Clearly, as you know his feeling of compassion and understanding towards those that suffered during the war years."
SUPER CAPTION: Itaru Umezu, Japanese Deputy Ambassador to United Kingdom
British Prime Minister Tony Blair had appealed for a warm reception for the head of state of one of Britain's key economic partners - that doesn't appear to have been the case.
It is likely that the protests will continue throughout the visit which ends on Friday when Akihito returns to Japan.